The Crafty Traveller: A host of new flights for 2013 as the airlines stretch their wings

The advent of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner was meant to make flying significantly more pleasant.

However, at the moment the Dreamliner is simply causing airlines a big headache, as all are grounded while Boeing carries out safety tests on the planes' lithium batteries.

On the up: easyJet is launching a new service to Kalamata in Greece, from July 6

Compared with its rivals, the plane is more spacious, less noisy, has larger windows, and its cabin-pressurisation system means you should arrive at your destination feeling fresher.

Thomson Airways had been trumpeting the fact it will be the first UK airline to offer Dreamliner flights. They were due to start in May, to Cancun in Mexico and Orlando in Florida. But the on-going safety checks have meant the aircraft won't be delivered on time.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

So earlier this week, Thomson announced that those booked to fly on the Dreamliner in May and June will travel on alternative 767s. Affected customers will be refunded the supplement they paid for flying on the Dreamliner (£20 per person return), and those booked in the premium cabin have been offered an additional £80 goodwill gesture for the disappointment.

Those affected can also amend their holiday without incurring any charges. Holidaymakers booked to fly with Thomson on the Dreamliner after June will have to wait and see what happens.

Below, I've highlighted other notable flight news.

The 'from' fares given are flying economy, and include taxes. With the lowcost airlines, note that there are significant additional charges for checking in luggage.

Moscow

easyJet (www.easyjet.com) is due to start flying to Moscow this month – from Gatwick on March 18, and Manchester on March 28, though it is still seeking final permission from the Russians.

easyJet is advertising Gatwick to Moscow fares from £95 return. That bargain price was available earlier this week travelling mid- April, and was massively cheaper than Aeroflot or British Airways.

Kefalonia

Ryanair's (www.ryanair.com) expansion to Greece continues this summer, with its first ex-UK flights to the lovely Ionian island of Kefalonia. The flights, from Stansted, start on April 1, and can be ridiculously cheap in low season – booked earlier this week, just £34 return travelling mid-April.

However, in peak holiday periods, fares are many times that, and at least as high as the competition: shop around on www.skyscanner.net.

The Peloponnese

Kalamata, the gateway to the magical landscapes and ancient sites of Greece's Peloponnese region, is another new destination for easyJet. The summer-only service, from Gatwick, commences on July 6, and the only other UK-Kalamata flights are charters.

Fares are high in the school summer holidays, but less than £100 return in October.

On the horizon: Both Moscow (left) and Kefalonia (right) will be served by new airline routes from this summer

The Canaries

British Airways (www.ba.com) is restarting flights to Lanzarote on March 31, and Tenerife on April 1, both from Gatwick. I say restart, because GB Airways – a now-defunct franchise of BA – flew to the Canaries until March 2008.

Fares appear expensive: from £238 return to Lanzarote, from £199 return to Tenerife. However, on these routes BA's fares include checked-in bags, whereas flying with Ryanair to the Canaries in high season, you'll pay at least £70 extra return to check in a bag.

Sri Lanka

After a 15-year break, BA is also recommencing flights to Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.

The service kicks off on April 14, from Gatwick. Tickets cost from £605 return for bookings made by March 31. The flights are via the Maldives both ways, making a two-centre holiday in the Indian Ocean destinations an attractive proposition. The flights are bookable through a tour operator such as Kuoni (01306 747008, www.kuoni.co.uk).

Paris from Brighton

On March 6 a new enterprise called Brighton City Airways (www.brightoncityairways.com) is launching civilised-sounding daily services from Brighton (Shoreham) Airport to Paris Pontoise Airport. Flights are on a 19-seater aircraft, and fares are from £138 return.

Little Red

This is the name Virgin Atlantic (www.virgin-atlantic.com) is using for its new domestic operation: Heathrow to Manchester flights begin on March 31, Heathrow to Edinburgh on April 5, and Heathrow to Aberdeen on April 9. Intended to compete with British Airways on the routes, the flights will be 'full service' – ie fares include a generous checked-in luggage allowance, assigned seats, free snacks and drinks, and a hot breakfast on early flights. Booked today, prices start at £98 to £100 return.

Southend

Since the redeveloped Southend Airport in Essex started international flights in earnest last spring, it has been going from strength to strength. EasyJet passengers have given the airport the highest satisfaction rating of any used by the airline, and new routes this year include a thrice-weekly service to Newquay with easyJet starting on June 20, with fares from £62 return.